Oil Prices Are Shaking Markets but These Energy Stocks Deserve A Closer Look

Recent pressure on AI and semiconductor stocks, combined with higher oil prices tied to US and Iran tensions, has pushed investors to rethink how they are positioned across sectors. While some high-growth technology stocks have seen sharp declines, large energy companies with solid balance sheets are drawing fresh attention as a different way to seek exposure to global trends. This article looks at how that backdrop connects to a curated group of North American energy stocks and highlights 3 specific stocks from the screener that appear positively exposed to these market drivers.

Amplify Energy (AMPY)

Overview: Amplify Energy is a US based oil and natural gas producer focused on acquiring, developing and operating mature fields, primarily the offshore Beta field near Long Beach, California, and the Bairoil complex in Wyoming.

Operations: Amplify Energy generates all of its US$228.8 million in revenue from exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas in the United States.

Market Cap: US$163.9 million

Amplify Energy operates at the intersection of rising oil prices and investor interest in cash generative energy producers. The company’s offshore and onshore fields leave it highly sensitive to commodity moves tied to US Iran tensions. Analysts project earnings growth even though revenue is expected to decline, citing cost control and more efficient wells. At the same time, the stock carries meaningful risks from high debt, environmental scrutiny in California and maturing assets that have weighed on recent production and profitability. Inclusion in multiple Russell indices has also put Amplify Energy on more institutional radars. For investors weighing the trade off between oil exposure, balance sheet considerations and regulatory risk, the overall picture is more nuanced than headline figures alone may indicate.

Amplify Energy looks like a classic “simple story, messy details” situation, where cost control and index inclusion could be masking a far more interesting risk reward skew, starting with the 2 key rewards and 1 important warning sign

Gulf Marine Services (LSE:GMS)

Overview: Gulf Marine Services (LSE:GMS) operates a fleet of self propelled, self elevating support vessels that provide offshore construction, maintenance, accommodation and well services to oil, gas and renewable energy projects across the Middle East, Europe and other regions.

Operations: Gulf Marine Services generates its revenue primarily from its E Class vessels at about $87.4 million, followed by K Class at $54.7 million and S Class at $46.1 million, with demand spread across Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Europe.

Market Cap: £221.0 million

Gulf Marine Services gives you direct exposure to offshore activity at a time when higher oil prices are encouraging more work on existing platforms and new projects. The company has a sizeable contracted backlog of $666 million and is expanding into Africa and Latin America, including a four year Brazilian charter that broadens its customer base beyond the Gulf. Recent margin pressure, a large one off $10.1 million loss and reliance on external borrowing mean results can be volatile. For investors who can tolerate that trade off, the company’s contracted backlog, fleet mix and geographic expansion may make Gulf Marine Services worth a closer look.

Gulf Marine Services’ growing contracted backlog and expansion into new regions such as Brazil suggest that the current share price may not yet fully reflect the story. The full picture in the 2 key rewards and 2 important warning signs might therefore be surprising.

Helix Energy Solutions Group (HLX)

Overview: Helix Energy Solutions Group provides offshore energy services such as well intervention, subsea robotics, decommissioning and production support for oil, gas and renewable projects across major offshore basins worldwide.

Operations: Helix Energy Solutions Group generates most of its revenue from Well Intervention at US$740.4 million, supported by Robotics at US$334.7 million, Shallow Water Abandonment at US$204.1 million and Production Facilities at US$71.6 million, partially offset by US$49.4 million of intercompany eliminations.

Market Cap: US$1.4b

Helix Energy Solutions Group may be of interest to investors looking at energy services linked to higher oil prices, because its mix of well intervention, subsea robotics and decommissioning aligns with producer needs to keep offshore assets running and eventually retire aging fields. A rich contract pipeline in decommissioning and renewables related work, together with the planned Hornbeck merger, indicates the potential for a larger and more diversified business once approvals are in place. At the same time, recent losses, low margins and reliance on external borrowing suggest that the path to better profitability is complex, especially when some customers are delaying projects. How those opposing forces balance out, and what that could mean for future cash flows, is a key consideration for understanding Helix’s overall story.

Helix Energy Solutions Group looks like a stalled story on the surface, yet its mix of well intervention, robotics and decommissioning work hints at a more complex earnings path that the analyst forecasts for Helix Energy Solutions Group only starts to reveal

The three stocks covered here are only a starting point, and the full Energy Sector Stocks screener uncovers 34 more companies with equally compelling energy narratives that could fit very different risk and return preferences. Use Simply Wall St to identify, analyze and filter for the exact catalysts, balance sheet strength and growth stories that matter most so you can focus on your highest conviction ideas in the sector.

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If Amplify Energy or any of these companies sound like a great opportunity, register for FREE with Simply Wall St and add your companies to a Watchlist to monitor the share price against the fair value the ideal entry point. Once you've made your move, manage your holdings with our Portfolio Command Center that filters out the noise to deliver only the most critical, actionable updates. Throughout your journey, our Community allows you to filter the best ideas from thousands of investor perspectives. By uncovering hidden catalysts and risks early, you'll accelerate your decision-making and stay one step ahead of the market.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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